On October 22, in the Towers Gallery in Sofia the official opening of a joint exhibition of talented Bulgarian sculptor Nikola Kolev and best-selling Greek artist Iannis Nikou took place. In addition to the fact that they are both married to women who are also artists, the two have another thing in common – they both work in the magical realism genre.

"Magic realism is a new form in visionary art,” says Iannis Nikou, who was a student of the great Greek artist Yiannis Moralis. “The works show metaphysical dimensions, focusing on the fantastic side, but still essential elements as composition and colour are kept. Artists cannot do everything they want, as there are some rules that must be observed.”

Art is pleasure for Iannis Nikou and through it he has managed to meet other artists like Nikola Kolev. A year and a half ago their mutual friends introduced them to one another. They work on similar topics and make use of a thematic line of angels and horses. A joint exhibition in London took place before Nikola invited Iannis to Bulgaria.

"It is something normal to invite your neighbour,” the sculptor, famous for his work with metal, says. “I invited Yannis in order for us to learn more about the Greek mentality. We have common cycles, but also see the same things from different angles and use different artistic language, which contributes to our work and creates harmony.”

Nikola Kolev likes Towers Gallery because it is bright space full of light. At the opening the hall was full of friends, artists and official guests.

"The greatest prize for an artist is a full gallery,” the sculptor says. “It makes you happy, gives you strength to dream and charges you for more work. To create a work of art takes a lot of efforts and sleepless nights. It is like creating a child, like opening your soul. Turning a piece of metal or a canvas into something breathing, something alive is truly difficult.”

Nikola Kolev has been a sculptor for some 30 years. He has been drawing since he was a child. When he was a child a fateful meeting with wood carving professor from the Art Academy, Kancho Tsanev, took place. A schoolmate invited Kolev to his home to show him his toys but Nikola remained fascinated by the carved wood ceilings and chests. Upon returning home he told his parents he would become like his friend’s father.”

Today he is a mature artist who has learned the secrets of creating captivating art.

"The goal is to create a silhouette that attracts the attention of the viewer, to make them step closer to see; to make them go around it. If you can make people touch it, then your work is well done.”

"Lots of words are scarcity," reads a Greek proverb that artist Iannis Nikou likes a lot and invites people to see his paintings that talk for themselves. People in Bulgaria can take advantage of the invitation until November 16 and see the works „without prejudice, as there are no limits and we are one," the artist says

"Bulgaria is a new EU Member State and it is interesting to Greece as new horizons have opened; new ideas emerged and the world as whole has been changing. Bulgaria has nothing to do with what it was some 30 years ago - it is nowa new country and I like it."

English: Alexander Markov